Audio helmet for monkeys



J1me 1967 J. J. ROMBA AUDIO HELMET FOR MONKEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1964 M VM m I m WWW O J w 0/ 2 LI W 21 FIG.3

A T TORNEYS June 6, 1967 J. J. ROMBA 3,324,255

AUDIO HELMET FOR MONKEYS Filed June 30, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN I R OM BA ATTORNEYS June 6, 1967 J. J. ROMBA AUDIO HELMET FOR MONKEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 30, 1964 INVENTOR. JOHN J. ROMBA BY 6W1 J-Ww/MM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,324,255 AUDIO HELMET FOR MONKEYS John J. Rumba, Aberdeen, Md., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed June 30, 1964, Ser. No. 379,416 7 Claims. (Cl. 179-156) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

My invention relates to a monkey audio helmet, and more specifically to an earphone holding device to permit audiogram testing of monkeys who have been exposed to gunfire and detonations.

Due to the nature of the injury, animals make ideal subjects for the study of both temporary and permanent hearing losses. The use of the conditioned response audiometric technique has been standard among investigators who have taken audiograms on subhuman primates and lower animals. The test tone was administered by means of a speaker and had the disadvantages of requiring that the test rooms have very good sound resistant characteristics and that the head of the animal must be immobilized in terms of position and direction to the sound source.

The most reliable method of taking audiograms is with the use of earphones such as used in human audiometry. Since the animals head is usually small and the surface around the cars is somewhat angular, the problem of fitting earphones is extremely difficult. In addition, the utmost in comfort must be attained in order to minimize distractions that might hinder the reproduction of results.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a device for audiogram testing of animals which is comfortable and permits the head to be moved Without dislodging the device.

Another object of my invention is to provide a helmet equipped with earphones for the audiogram testing of animals which permits equal pressure about the ears and eliminates sound leaks.

A further object of my invention is to provide a helmet for animals which is substantially rigid, is not irritating to the animals head, and which is lightweight and soundproof.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken through the ear portion of the helmet.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral indicates the helmet generally which comprises complementary outer half she-11s 11 and 12, of plastic or other lightweight material which are joined together by a hinge assembly 13 and the pin 14. The shells 11 and 12 have mating flanges 15 and 16 along a portion of their outer edges and a soft inner lining 17 preferably of polyurethane foam. Also each shell 11 and 12 has a hard flat support 18 and 19 for the back of the animals head, an upper mandibular support 20 and 21 with a lining such as 17, and chin straps 22 and 23. Ear openings 24 are provided in the shells 11 and 12. A tube 25 extends through the opening 24 and through the soft inner lining '17. Recessed in the lining 17 and secured to a portion of.

the exterior surface of the tube 25 is a ring 26 of hard plastic material. Adjacent the ring 26 is a liquid filled cushion ring 27. A foam cushion ring 28 surrounds the 3,324,255 Patented June 6, 1967 opening 24 on the exterior surface of the shells 11, 12, and together with three peripheral supports 29 maintains the earphones (not shown) against the helmet.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An audiogram testing helmet for monkeys and the like comprising an outer shell having openings adjacent the ear portions thereof, cushioning material secured to the inner surface of said shell, a tube extending through each of said openings and said cushioning material, a liquid filled cushion surrounding the inner end of said tube, and means to maintain earphones adjacent the ear portions.

2. An audiogram testing helmet for monkeys comprising a pair of complementary outer half shells having openings adjacent the ear portions thereof, hinge means joining said shells together at their upper portions, cushioning material secured to the inner surface of said shells, a tube extending through each of said openings and said cushioning material, a liquid filled cushion surrounding the inner end of said tube, tie means securing said half shells together at their lower portions, and means to maintain earphones adjaeent the ear portion.

3. An audiogram testing helmet for monkeys comprising a pair of complementary outer half shells having openings adjacent the ear portions thereof, hinge means joining said shells together at their upper portions, cushioning material secured to the inner surface of said shells, a head support member at the rear portion of each of said shells,

' an upper mandibular support provided by the front portion of each of said shells, a tube extending through each of said openings and said cushioning material, a liquid filled cushion surrounding the inner end of said tube, tie means securing said half shells together at their lower portions, and means to maintain earphones adjacent the ear portions.

4. An audiogram testing helmet for monkeys comprising a pair of complementary outer half shells having openings adjacent the ear portions thereof, hinge means joining said shells together at their upper portions, cushioning material secured to the inner surface of said shells, a tube extending through each of said openings and said cushioning material, a ring embedded in said cushioning material surrounding and secured to the exterior surface of said tube, a liquid filled cushion covering said ring, and means to maintain earphones adjacent the ear portions.

5. An audiogram testing helmet for monkeys comprising a pair of complementary outer half shells having openings adjacent the ear portions thereof, hinge means joining said shells together at their upper portions, cushioning material secured to the inner surface of said shells, a head support member at the rear portion of each of said shells, an upper mandibular support provided by the front portion of each of said shells, a tube extending through each of said openings and said cushioning material, a ring embedded in said cushioning material surrounding and secured to the exterior surface of said tube, a liquid filled cushion superimposed on said ring, a foam cushion ring surrounding each of said openings on the exterior surface of said shells, means to maintain earphones against said foam cushion ring, and tie means securing said half shells together at their lower portions.

6. In a helmet for audiogram testing of monkeys and the like, the combination with an outer shell having openings adjacent the ear portions thereof, cushioning material secured to the inner surface of said shell; of an earphone support comprising a tube extending through each of said openings and said cushioning material, and a liquid filled cushion surrounding the inner end of said tube.

7. In a helmet for audiogram testing of monkeys and the like, the combination with an outer shell having openings adjacent the ear portions thereof, cushioning material secured to the inner surface of said shell; of an earphone support comprising a tube extending through each of the openings and the cushioning material, a ring embedded in said cushioning material surrounding and secured to the exterior surface of said tube, a liquid filled cushion superimposed on said ring, a foam cushion ring surrounding each of the openings on the exterior surface 4 of the shell, and means to maintain earphones adjacent said foam cushion ring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,786,102 3/1957 Frieder et al. l79156 2,805,4"19 9/1957 F-inken 2-3 3,014,998 12/1961 Simpson et al. l79156 10 KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM C. COOPER, Examiner. 

1. AN AUDIOGRAM TESTING HELMET FOR MONKEYS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING AN OUTER SHELL HAVING OPENINGS ADJACENT THE EAR PORTIONS THEREOF, CUSHIONING MATERIAL SECURED TO THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SHELL, A TUBE EXTENDING THROUGH EACH OF SAID OPENINGS AND SAID CUSHIONING MATERIAL, A LIQUID FILLED CUSHION SURROUNDING THE INNER END OF SAID TUBE, AND MEANS TO MAINTAIN EARPHONES ADJACENT THE EAR PORTIONS. 